Test PyPI Server

Just learning the packaging ropes or trying some system integration out?

The test PyPI server at https://testpypi.python.org/pypi provides a location to experiment with the publication process without impacting the live PyPI service.

To upload packages to it you need to:

1. Register with the site. It has a different user database than the main PyPI server. It also gets cleaned out on a semi-regular basis.

2. Fill in your test PyPI credentials in your ~/.pypirc file. You should end up with something like this:

[distutils]
index-servers=
    pypi
    testpypi

[testpypi]
repository = https://testpypi.python.org/pypi
username = <your user name goes here>
password = <your test password goes here>

[pypi]
username = <your user name goes here>
password = <your live password optionally goes here>

3. Use the test server URL to register your project (it gives you the right to modify your project on the server):

   python setup.py register -r https://testpypi.python.org/pypi

Note that the test server uses an older implementation of the upload interface and hence does not support auto-registration the way the live service does when using twine's default configuration.

4. Then upload it using twine:

   twine upload dist/* -r testpypi

Now that your project is on the server, test that you can install your package from testpypi (it may be a good idea to run your unit tests from another directory to make sure you are using the version you just installed):

    pip install -i https://testpypi.python.org/pypi <package name>

If you need to push your project again, change the version number in setup.py otherwise the server will give you an error.